Cover Story
For want of fish
When large numbers of marine mammals suddenly and unexpectedly begin stranding on beaches and dying, the incident is described as an unusual mortality event. While that term may be scientifically efficient and accurate, it does little to convey—at least in the recent case of starving California sea lions—the startling sight of limp forms dotting the…
What would you do if you saw a sea lion washed up on the beach?
Katie Maguire full-time nanny “I don’t know who the heck I would call. I would call the rescue center.” Colleen Staffel former restaurateur “Call the rescue center, don’t touch it, and check in on it to make sure it’s got enough food.” Matthew Kiger student “Depends on where it is. If it’s around something dangerous,…
Lend your voice
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department wants to hear from Santa Maria citizens regarding their recreational wants, needs, and priorities. All input will be taken into consideration for the 2013 Leisure Needs Assessment and Action Plan. Two meetings of the “Leisure Assessment Process” remain: on April 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.…
Waller Park has friends
The Friends of Waller Park will present their Arbor Day award to Gene Peterson during their fifth annual Arbor Day ceremony on April 27 at Waller Park. The group will recognize Gene Petersen for his dedication and services to the community, according to a press release. “Gene has been a tireless supporter of Friends of…
Bulldogs welcome a new coach
The Allan Hancock College women’s basketball team will have a new coach for the 2013-2014 season. A recent press release from AHC athletics announced that Coach Gary Nerelli, pending approval from the board of trustees, will take over as the basketball coach. Nerelli, with more than 40 years of basketball coaching experience, has spent the…
Athlete of the Week: Nick Balderama
Santa Maria High School golf player Nick Balderama has been leading his team this season, consistently making the lowest score in almost every tournament and placing in the top 10 in the Los Padres League. According to Jay Cheney, the Saints’ golf coach of two years, Balderama is one of three returning golfers this…
The Benchwarmer
The alarm clock goes off. I roll over and beat it into silence. I lie there for a moment and prepare myself for my exit from bed. Here goes nothing. I throw my legs over the edge and sit up. I brace my hands on the bed and straighten my knees to stand— Snap! Crackle!…
Here’s my simple solution
I’m a rationalist who is often met with big scowls (and worse) from Christians in Santa Maria when I fail to agree with their unsolicited religious claims. It’s all so unnecessary! If they would only claim their faith as faith, rather than as fact, then they’d be much less disagreeable. I hope they’ll forgive me…
Babies should be wanted
The recent opinion by the Canary describing the Safety Surrendered Baby Law was excellent (“Are you ready for the Big One?,” April 4). It is surprising, but these laws are fairly recent. Several years back, there was an incident here in Santa Maria where a baby was left near the trash on pick-up day. The…
Calculating CalPERS: This stuff ain’t for sissies
Well, tax season is drawing to a close. How did you do this year? I managed to make it through the federal and state rigmarole with my humble bank account still intact, and I should be getting a little extra spending money coming my way soon! Someone’s buying the fancy millet next time she goes…
Love, immigration, and Congressional representation
While I was studying medieval history at the University of Oxford, I met the girl of my dreams. Although we met as students in England, she was from the Netherlands and I was from California. Over two years in Europe and the two summers in the United States we spent together as a couple, I…
Cyber crime info event open to the public
Smart phones, laptops, and constant access to cyber space can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. If you want to better understand what those are and how they can affect your children, St. Joseph High School is hosting a free cyber-crime prevention symposium for parents and teachers on April 29. Tracy Webb, a senior trial attorney…
Latinos Unidos Club encourages students to think college
Stereotypes and identity issues are just two topics that will be addressed on April 27 at the Righetti High School Latinos Unidos Club’s first annual event designed to inform students and parents about the benefits of attending college. The conference will also provide insight into the tools needed to move on to higher education and…
Miller Elementary grows a little brighter
On any given day around noon, Miller Elementary School is busy with students trolling back and forth to the cafeteria. More than a hundred yellow-shirt-wearing volunteers from C&D Zodiac Aerospace compounded that lunchtime chaos on April 18. They painted murals, walls, and pavement; built benches; replanted gardens, and were fed lunch by students and faculty.…
Locals can seek compensation from a Massachusetts program
It’s the only thing anyone’s been able to talk about for the past couple of weeks, it seems, and it’s hard to imagine how closely the Boston Marathon bombing has impacted members of our community. Santa Barbara County residents who were near or emotionally impacted by the explosions should seek help from the Massachusetts Victim…
Spotlight on: The Animal Kingdom Pet Shop
If Adam Tipton is the king of The Animal Kingdom Pet Shop, then the animals his wife Mickie and he have been selling for 19 years are the princes and princesses. Of all the pet shops that dot the cities and neighborhoods of California, only a select few have the clear, open layout, the spotless…
Catch my drift?
The Arreola family smelled something bad, like rotten eggs. Since they lived in Santa Maria’s St. Marie Mobile Home Park near strawberry and broccoli fields—literally feet away, in fact—they worried about chemicals, like pesticides, being applied to fruits and vegetables growing so close to their home. They noticed odd smells at odd times. Alejandra Arreola…
Words from the wise
For a small Buddhist congregation run from a converted residence, the San Luis Obispo Bodhi Path Center has a surprisingly easy time attracting world-renowned teachers. According to Michelle Schaffner, who helped initiate the SLO chapter, Tibetan masters like Shangpa Rinpoche, Lama Jampa, and Shamar Rinpoche, founder of the international Bodhi Path movement, have led meditation…
Focusing on the underserved
The mother of a local high school student recently discovered her car had been stolen, but she didn’t call the police because she didn’t have a driver’s license. Instead, the mom went to a high school migrant student advisor for help. “She didn’t know what to do,” said Adriana Galindo, who works for the Santa…
Lompoc’s space center project is grounded–again
A complex case of “the chicken or the egg”—or, in this case, “the land or the money”—prompted Lompoc City Council members on April 16 to terminate their contract with the Environmental Education Group (EEG), a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit proposing to build a $220 million space center on city land. During the meeting, it became apparent…
Correction
In the April 18 arts story, “The coin connection,” the regular meeting place for the Santa Maria Coin Club was incorrectly reported. The Santa Maria Coin Club meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Edwards Community Center, 809 Panther Drive, Santa Maria. News Briefs are compiled by Sun writers through reporting and local and…
DA delays death penalty decision
Murder defendants in the Anthony Ibarra homicide trial have to wait until June 6 to know if the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty against them. Senior Deputy District Attorney Ann Bramsen repeated the DA’s decision several times during the latest arraignment hearing in the case, on April 18. The…
Judge declares a mistrial for Lompoc prison guard
Jurors failed to reach a verdict April 19 in the trial of former Lompoc prison guard Timothy McNally, prompting Judge Patricia Kelly to call a mistrial. As of press time, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office had yet to announce whether it will attempt to retry McNally, who’s charged with murdering his friend and…
Air-quality-watchers want ships to slow down as they pass the county
When you put Santa Barbara County-based sources of nitrogen oxides into a pie chart, the slice representing marine shipping in the Santa Barbara Channel looks like Pac-Man opening his mouth really, really wide. The county’s Air Pollution Control District reports that 54 percent of the ozone-forming emissions come from vessels off the coast, dwarfing on-road…
Songs for the soldiers
The many branches of the military have always seen each soldier as a member of a band of brothers and sisters, all connected to each other by a common commitment. Even after a tour of duty—or even a whole career —is complete, the feeling of dedication doesn’t end. That feeling inspired Rockie Lynne to compose…
The dog sitter
There aren’t a lot of animals or pets at our house. To get a bit more specific, there are zero pets. Looking at things scientifically, as in cause-and-effect, you would think if we didn’t have any pets, then we wouldn’t have any pet doo-doo in our yard. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Our neighbors are…
It was all a dream
Twenty-six years ago, New Times and Sun founder Steve Moss challenged readers to write a story in 55 words or less. Billed as “the world’s shortest stories of love and death,” the contest launched a new genre, sometimes called “flash fiction,” and spawned a host of imitators (what’s up, Monterey County Weekly?). Every year, the…
A man rich in talent
Only a few musicals are household names, pinned down as iconic representations of humanity and art. PCPA is gearing up for a production of one such play, Fiddler on the Roof—one of the most produced musicals and a title familiar to people who’ve never even stepped foot in a theater. PCPA Theaterfest has provided the…
Keeping kids creative
Michaels arts and crafts store offers upcoming classes for kids. A “Kids Club: Mother’s Day Frame Event” is on April 27 from 10 a.m. to noon. Crafting happens in 30-minute sessions for both events. For more information, contact Michaels at 349-8801 or visit the store at 1934 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. Arts Briefs is compiled…
Call to artists
The Lompoc Valley Art Association invites all artists to submit an application to participate in the arts and crafts show portion of the Lompoc Valley Flower Festival held June 28 through 30. The call is open to all artists who create original, handmade material. Artists who want to be considered must complete an application by…
Get ready to dance
The Kings of Swing Dance Studio presents “Fabiana,” a master instructor of cabaret-style Middle Eastern belly dancing who’s offering classes on Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. beginning April 30 and continuing for four weeks. The cost for the classes is $45, $40 in advance. More information is available at 928-7799 or kingsdancestudio.com.
Representative needed
The city of Santa Maria will accept applications to serve on the Santa Barbara County Advisory Committee through April 26 at 5 p.m. The appointment will be made by the City Council on May 7. The Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Committee includes nine members, who review and maintain the master plan for each county…
A legacy of dedication
The Santa Maria Fire Department is celebrating its centennial anniversary of service to the Santa Maria Valley on April 25 at 10 a.m. at the Alvin Newton Memorial Site at the Southeast corner of Main and Broadway, Santa Maria. The event will feature an honor ceremony for Alvin Newton, a Santa Maria firefighter who died…
Strawberries galore
It’s the start of peak strawberry season in the Santa Maria Valley, where more than 20 million trays of high-quality, handpicked strawberries are produced annually. Longtime Santa Maria strawberry grower Daren Gee of DB Specialty Farms described this year’s bumper crop: “The biggest in the history of strawberries in the United States! And I’m not…
On top of his game
Bill Burr has become a familiar face on TV and in cinema, but his passion for standup comedy first started him on the path to a career in entertainment, and that outlet still keeps him touring and performing at clubs across the globe. Originally from the suburbs of Boston, Burr got his start in the…
